MEM

Sins That Beset Us

Last month we talked about ‘Secret Sins’ and referred to the incident at Ai in the book of Joshua, chapter 7. A whole nation suffered because of the sin of one man. I could not help wonder why YHVH did not point to Achan and say, "There he is; he did it!" No, everyone was to purify themselves and come before YHVH. First every tribal leader (twelve representing the whole nation) had to pass before YHVH until the tribe Judah was selected. Then all of the clans of Judah had to come until the clan of the Zerahites was picked out. Next all the family heads came until the family of Zabdi was indicated. This continued, man by man, until Achan son of Carmi was left standing before the congregation of Israel as the one who caused the defeat at Ai. It was he who had disobeyed the command of YHVH at Jericho. I wonder, why all the suspense, why all the meticulous procedure, all the time involved? Was YHVH hoping Achan would come forward and repent? Was this an example of how we should look at every aspect of our life? Starting with the major things and going on one at a time until we find a fault that could or does cause failure and defeat in our life. We too must then seek forgiveness, both from Elohim and/or our fellow man before Elohim (God) judges us.

The Day of Atonement falls in September this year. We can learn from the Judaic tradition of searching our lives during the forty days before Atonement, for anything we may have done to cause offence to man or Elohim. They would make every effort to be free from offense so on Atonement there would be a covering of their transgression. During this time the High Priest would be in the Holy of Holies. They waited… would their sins be covered? Would they have YHVH’s forgiveness? Would they be the cause of lost blessings for themselves or the nation? Or would they have His blessing for the coming year?

Do we question how things are going in our lives? Are we the cause of blessings or curses? Are we still in bondage to sin? How is our nation doing? Seek Yeshua, our Savior with our whole heart, soul and might - He will reveal our shortcomings. He will deliver us from sin – it all starts with each of us.

Blessed be YHVH.

May His blessings be upon us, individually, as a congregation, and as a nation.

Proverb

Proverbs 28:18 He who walks blamelessly will be delivered, But he who is crooked will fall all at once.

Proverbs 11:8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, But the wicked takes his place.

Saying

You may not be responsible for your heritage but you are responsible for your future.

One of life’s most painful moments comes when we must admit that we didn’t do our homework, that we were not prepared. (Merlin Olsen)

Bible Quiz

A burning bush caught this man’s attention?

Adam and Eve made aprons using these plants’ leaves?

Cedars are renown in the Bible as coming from this place?

Noah’s ark was made out of this type of wood?

This plant provided Jonah with shade (for a while)?

Yeshua condemned this plant because it had no fruit?

This man climbed a tree in order to see Yeshua (Jesus)?

The Israelites sent spies into the land of Canaan, which brought back samples of this fruit, so heavy that two men had to carry it?

Reader's Comments

Praying for: Hebrews 13:1

Let brotherly love continue.

Hebraic Lesson

The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)

Leviticus 23:34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. v. 42 you shall dwell in booths seven days. (Booths or tabernacles refer to living in temporary dwelling places.)

Each year the Israelites were commanded to leave their homes and dwell in temporary booths. Many today will build a booth outside, constructed of a framework covered with branches for the roof. This feast was at the end of the fall harvest and was a reminder: v. 43 so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’"

Even as the children of Israel were in temporary dwellings as they wandered in the wilderness, in a broader sense our bodies are a temporary dwelling place for us until we are given an eternal spiritual body.

Peter 1:13,14 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Know that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle… (Peter here refers to his body as a tabernacle)

This year the seventh month of God’s calendar begins at sundown on the 15th of September. Many will leave their homes and gather to celebrate a time of feasting and rejoicing before the Creator. For us this pictures the glorious one thousand year reign of Messiah on the earth.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. ... And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

We look forward to the time when God will tabernacle (dwell) with mankind permanently.

Rural Wisdom By Jerry Apps

- All of us teach, whether we intend to or not.

- We teach by who we are and what we do much more so than by what we say.

- To learn a subject well, try to teach it to someone else.

- To understand a forest we must know more than the trees.

- Find those who are wise and follow them.

- Eat plain food.

- Learn to laugh at yourself.

Did you know:

The Olive Tree

Growth Habits: The olive is an evergreen tree growing to 50 ft. in height with a spread of about 30 ft. The tree can be kept to about 20 ft. with regular pruning. The graceful, billowing appearance of the olive tree can be rather attractive. In an all-green garden its grayish foliage serves as an interesting accent. The attractive, gnarled branching pattern is also quite distinctive. Olive trees are long-lived with a life expectancy of 500 years. They are also tenacious, easily sprouting back even when chopped to the ground.

Pruning: Proper pruning is important for the olive. Pruning both regulates production and shapes the tree for easier harvest. The trees can withstand radical pruning, so it is relatively easy to keep them at a desired height.

Olive oil was so plentiful in Israel that it was one of the products regularly exported. Solomon sent the King of Tyre 100,000 gallons (378,533 liters) of olive oil (I Kgs. 5:11). One thousand years later, during the time of Yeshua (Jesus), olive oil is mentioned in writings of that day as the only export of the Jerusalem region.

The Mount of Olives, located just east of the Old City of Jerusalem, attests to the prevalence of olive trees around the city. Also, it was in the Garden of Gethsemane (Gat Shemen in Hebrew, literally, the place of the "olive press"), where Yeshua spent much of His time in Jerusalem with His disciples. "Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him" (Lk. 22:39).

The trees were always plentiful around the countryside and are known for their tenacity. They grow in almost any condition: on terraced hills or in valleys, in rocky or fertile soil. They can thrive in great heat with a minimum of water, and are virtually indestructible. Some grow from root systems 2,000 years old, yet the olive producer has to wait fifteen years for his first good harvest. It was an olive leaf that a dove from Noah's ark brought to Noah.

Humor

In 1930 novelist Rex Stout built a fourteen-room house, with his own hands, on a hilltop in Danbury, Connecticut. Later he invited Frank Lloyd Wright (world famous, US architect) out to see it and waited patiently for his evaluation. Wright examined it carefully and then said, "A superb spot. Someone should build a house here."

When we started this story our objective was to enter the time of the Children of Israel as they were in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land. This land was promised to their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel, thus these were the children of Israel). Their fathers wandered throughout the land of the Canaanites, living in tents. This land was very fertile, described as a land flowing with milk and honey. When Jacob and his children faced a famine they journeyed to the land of Egypt. They lived there for over two hundred years, multiplying greatly, they then fell victim to an oppressive Egyptian bondage. When they cried out to their Creator, He sent a deliverer by the name of Moses. Through Moses, his brother Aaron, and many plagues and trials, the Creator YHVH (LORD) delivered them from their bondage with the intent of taking them to the Promised Land.

As the children of Israel were on their way to the Promised Land, YHVH brought them first to Mount Sinai. There He gave them His Laws and made a covenant with them. Because these people were rebellious, they did not want to obey the covenant laws. When they were brought to the border of the Promised Land they would not enter in because they lacked the faith to trust YHVH, despite all the miracles they saw and experienced. YHVH then committed them to wander in the wilderness for forty years, until all those rebellious people over twenty years of age died.

Their history, the leaving of Egypt, YHVH giving them His Word, and their wanderings are recorded in the Bible books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These books are called the Torah.

This "Children’s Story" is primarily about one family among the great multitude of Israel. It is difficult to comprehend the everyday life of such a family, so we chose some biblical names and facts as we try to contemplate what it would be like at that time. This story includes the centrality of the presence of YHVH in the Tabernacle and the location of the tribes surrounding the Tabernacle. It is the story of preparing a people to be obedient to the leadership of YHVH, to prepare them to enter and take possession of the Promised Land. Below are some of the characters and story situations so far.

This Story: It began in the wilderness journey 38 years after YHVH’s sentence of 40 years of wandering.

The Family: From the tribe of Ephraim – of the clan of Tahan (Numbers 26:25).

The Father: Jeremiah (exalted of God) – was 12 years old when he left Egypt – spent 20 years under Joshua as an aide. He was a leader of 100 men who were in turn over 50 men who were each over 10 individuals (Jeremiah was responsible for 50,000 people in the clan of Tahan). He was married, the father of four children and at the time of our story 50 years old. His father Nathan (he gave) was a master brick layer in Egypt which gave them privileges others did not have. His mother was Abigail (a father’s joy), they had both died in the wilderness.

The Mother: Tama (Tamah or Thamah =" laughter") was now 35 years of age. She was promised in marriage by her father to Jeremiah’s father when she was born three years into their wilderness journey. Being well trained for the rugged nomadic life-style, she lived up to her name by bringing joy to some of the most difficult situations.

The Eldest son: Joseph (he adds) 17, was named after the tribal head (Joseph the son of Jacob by Rachel, the father of Ephraim and Manasseh). He was kindly and supportive, always obedient as he witnessed what happened to the disobedient. Very desirous to be ready to enter the army at 20 to help secure the Promised Land, he would practice with sling and sword. He would watch military training and question the younger soldiers when they returned from battle.

Oldest daughter: Sarah (princess) 14, was very beautiful. She had not been promised in marriage yet, which was a concern for her. She was strong and could carry as mach water as the older ladies. She had mastered the art of weaving and wore beautiful garments of her own making. She was also good at keeping track of the family wealth acquired by inheritance and booty taken from the enemy during times of battle.

Second son: Benjamin (son of my right hand) 12, was extremely agile. He could scurry over rocks and ravines looking for food and animals. His main interest was animals, not only their sheep, but also wild animals. He liked to study them in their natural habitat whenever time allowed. Benjamin liked to play the stringed instruments. If he was not out in the field you might find him among the elders. He would often be there listening to their wise stories and counsel.

Second daughter: Elisabeth (oath of God) 6, was the talkative one of the family. She was cute in her remarks, taking after her mother. Elisabeth kept busy cleaning up after everyone, trying to keep things in order. If any attribute could be attributed to her, it would be tent keeper and aspiring cook.

Relatives in our story: Uncle Josiah (whom YHVH heals) from the tribe of Reuben, (a worker with all types of wood) married Tama’s sister, Rebecca (fettering by her beauty). They had a 16 year old son named Elah (an oak) that was always looking for ways to help others.

Tama’s Aunt Abigail (a father’s source of joy) was aging rapidly and would soon go the way of all others over the age of 58. She had no one to care for her and her crippled son, Ezra, (help) who needed looking after as well. Jeremiah’s family was blessed because they happily took care of them both.